Apple Watch Series 8 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Choose the right one

While the Apple Watch Ultra does not look similar to its smaller brother the Apple Watch Series 8, they have a lot in common. The Apple Watch Ultra is marginally bigger and more rugged but at the core, it has most of the same sensors and functionalities as the Series 8.

Both the watches are powered by the same Apple S8 processors, both run on the same watchOS 9. Both have the same heart rate monitor, ECG app, and crash detection feature. After wearing both the watches alternate with each other, for me, there is a stand out winner out of the two.

Here are the key differentiations between the two to help you choose the right Apple smartwatch for you.

Prices

The Apple Watch Series 8 starts from Rs 45900 for the 41 mm variant and Rs 48900 for the 45 mm variant. If you want to opt for the Cellular variant you will need to spend extra Rs 10000. The Series 8 is available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (Product) Red colours.

The Apple Watch Ultra is priced at Rs 89900 for the only 49 mm size. The smartwatch comes with Cellular connectivity as standard. Watch Ultra is available in three colours, Green, Starlight and Orange.

Design

The design has to be the primary difference between the two watches. Where the Apple Watch Series 8 looks sophisticated and minimalist at the same time, the Watch Ultra is much more rugged and feels like a tank. The Apple Watch Ultra is much more rugged and less prone to scratches and dents because of the Titanium frame and MIL-STD 810 H certification. In contrast the Series 8 is made from an Aluminium frame, the series 8 also comes with a Stainless Steel frame which is lighter and more durable. The flat display has more edge protection due to the shape of the case, which helps protect against drops and scratches compared to the Series 8's curved display.

While the design is personal, I do have to say that the Series 8 looks better with its muted design and curved edges.

Display

The Apple Watch Series 8 is available in two different screen sizes, 41mm and 45mm. No matter which size you choose the Series 8 dwarfs when compared to the 49 mm of the Apple Watch Ultra. The flat edges of the Ultra also make it look bigger than it is.

While on paper, the Apple Watch Ultra easily wins when compared to the brightness of the Series 8 (2000 nits vs 1000 nits on Series 8). In reality, I never had any problems with Series 8 while normal use. Though in certain cases when the visibility on the Series 8 faltered, the Watch Ultra was still easily readable.

The larger size of the Apple Watch Ultra also brings some exclusive watch faces with it. The all new Wayfinder Watch face, which is only available for the Watch Ultra. To make the Ultra more durable Apple is using Saphire Crystal at the front and the back.

Durability and Emergency features

In addition to the aforementioned Saphire Glass and Titanium frame, Watch Ultra also come with special bands that are catered for different sports like the Alpine loop for climbers, Trail Loop for athletes and the Ocean Band for divers.

Compared to the Apple Watch Series 8 which is water resistant up to 50 m, the Apple Watch ultra can go literally double the depths at up to 100 m. There is an additional Action Button on the side of the Apple Watch Ultra which can be customized to suit your needs. The Watch also comes with a Siren that can emit a sound of 86 dB sound that can be heard from 600 feet distance. Though I never had to use this feature, it was always a plus point.

Also to provide precise locations, Watch Ultra uses Dual Frequency GPS which is not affected by tall buildings.

Smartwatch Features

You're going to have nearly the same revel in the usage of both of those watches because the interfaces are the same. Both run the contemporary model of Watch OS nine with an equal choice of apps and watch faces. Each has a giant keyboard for textual content input, in addition to speech-to-textual content dictation. You also can ping your smartphone out of your watch to make it ring in case you lose it across the house. The one exception is that the Ultra has a different watch face, known as Wayfinder, that has room for up to 8 complications.

The Apple Watch Ultra has 3 microphones as compared to the single mic at the Series 8. I discover that more mics assist with wind reduction, however, the distinction isn't always dramatic sufficient to warrant choosing the Ultra.

Health and Fitness Tracking

These watches are very similar in terms of built-in sensors and health tracking. Both have temperature sensors for tracking ovulation, but they're also handy tools for monitoring temperature fluctuations during the night.

And the same blood oxygen sensor, electrocardiogram app, and high/low heart rate or arrhythmia warning. The heart rate sensors themselves are exactly the same, and both have excellent heart rate accuracy during workouts. GPS performance is one area where the result varies, with the Ultra using both the L1 and L5 bands, while the Series 8 uses only L1. In practice, you'll find the Ultra tracks more accurate distance and route information in urban areas thanks to its dual-band GPS.

Battery

The Ultra's battery is much larger and takes longer between charges, even with a brighter screen. Depending on how you use your watch, you may be able to push up to 2 or 3 days between charges.

Series 8 has the same battery life as previous Apple Watches and typically requires daily charging. Officially designed for a runtime of around 18 hours.

With the same usage patterns as always on display, 1-2 hour GPS workouts, sleep tracking, and regular notifications, Ultra can last a day and a half to two days. If you're not tracking your sleep, you can shift to two full days or more. With Series 8, this drops to 18-20 hours. If you turn off the Series 8 overnight or don't wear it to bed to track your sleep, you can use it for a full day on a single charge.

Both watches also have a power saving mode that further extends battery life, but Ultra's battery optimization allows you to use fewer GPS and heart rate readings for a total battery life of up to 60 hours. Both support fast wireless charging but require an 18W or higher power adapter, which isn't included with the Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Series 8 vs Apple Watch Ultra Verdict

If you solely look at the spec sheet and the features, the Apple Watch Ultra is the clear winner. The Apple Watch Series 8 may not be as ruggedly built as the Apple Watch Ultra, but it's certainly a solid choice in the lineup. Heart rate, blood oxygen sensor, electrocardiogram app (EKG or EKG), always-on display, and crash detection, both powered by Watch OS 9. So the main differences are size, brightness and battery life. As well as the lack of action buttons.

So for most people, I would suggest going for the Apple Watch Series 8. The lower price and a sleeker design will be suitable for most people. If your wrist and wallet are fine with the size of the watch and the price tag, the Apple Watch Ultra is also an excellent choice.